needed: opinions on new trollin motor that will work best with sonars.

[rickswanson]

i hope this is the right section for my question. my uncle is looking for a new bow mount, internal transducer, electric steer, wire less foot and/or hand controlled trollin motor for his 19' bass tracker. he has already and will be using a hummimbird 757c, 788c and/or 798c si/di (in 2d only). he is lookin hard at the motor guide W55L with the humminbird cable adapter. i dont like this motor guide because the transducer is a 200khz single beam only. and a motor guide rep. said that it might and might NOT show water temp, a 50/50 chance, whats up with that????? so, we MIGHT have to guess the water temp??? i dont think uncle lester will be grouper fishin in 100+ fow with the 200khz beam straight under the boat. minn kota has dual beam transducers in thier motors, but no wireless electric steers. uncle lester will be mostly trollin and beating the brush piles for crappie or bank runnin bass. we already have an older (2002) powerdrive on the deck boat we use. i'm thinkin, stay with minn kota, a powerdrive v2 or terrova, and add the wireless later. could even add i-pilot and all the other goodies later. what do you guys think???????? am i wrong about the motor guide single beam????? i'm not puttin motor guide down, i don't have experience with motor guides. i just think for $700+ there would be more. it seems to be that minn kota has more to offer. i guess its like the old "ford or chevy" question. thx, rick

[lowe rider]

I have a Terrova 80# thrust that had a copilot remote control and an autopilot in the head when I first bought it. I have since installed an Ipilot unit but if he has no need for one he could buy a Terrova and just install a Copilot unit in it if He's only interested in remote steer. I think you could post a WTB ad in the classifieds here and buy one cheap.

[Cray]

Terrova with Ipilot gives him everything he wants. No need to buy anything later. He can use it with foot pedal or remote. Have not seen many good reports on the motor guide and your right on about the ducer.

[Redge]

terrova with ipilot gives him everything he wants. No need to buy anything later. He can use it with foot pedal or remote. Have not seen many good reports on the motor guide and your right on about the ducer.

x2

[jimp]

go with the MK Terrova and auto pilot, electric steer, can use the remote or foot pedal as desired (which is what I do) and can get the internal ducer if you want. I would not use the internal xducer myself, I just mounted my xducer on the TM with a generic worm clamp and mounting bracket. I can show you my set up anytime up at Notchy Creek. I have IP as well, but it's not really needed with AP and the variable speed control, will need a gps to know your speed tho.

[rickswanson]

thx for the suggestions guys!!!!!!!!!! i think a MK with auto pilot will work best. i dont like the idea of holding the handheld wireless unit while trying to fish with my hands. hey jimp, how are you doing???????? that sounds great, maybe uncle lester can meet up with you 1 day and see if he likes your set up.

[jimp]

I'm doing ok, no complaints at all.

The remotes have a neckstrap so you can just wear it and it gets in your way whenever you bend over but you get used to that as well. The remote is VERY handy when you want/need to be at the other end of the boat and you want to change the TM settings. Just push a button or two and your done. The Terrova comes with AP, the IP is additional cost and I really like it a lot, but its not a necessity for longlining. AP will keep the boat on a magnetic bearing/heading until you change it, and the variable speed of the Terrova is super nice as well. Being able to record some tracks while trolling over/along the creek channels like you guys do, the IP could make life easier too. Push a button or two and sit back and cruise for two miles and it stops. Then repeat going the other way.

If Uncle Lester wants a demo or practice session on the Terrova, let me know and we'll work something out